Program Operations Manual System (POMS)

RS 01802.334 Husband-Wife Businesses

Businesses are often operated jointly by husbands and wives, but all earnings for self-employment purposes may have been reported by only one spouse, frequently the husband. Partnership determinations in these instances are complicated because that certain outward signs of the husband and wife relationship are similar to the indications of a partnership. Spouses may have jointly operated a business without considering themselves partners because they did not operate under a written partnership agreement. This does not preclude a finding of partnership for Social Security purposes.

If the elements outlined in RS 01802.316 are present, a partnership exists. Question a husband and wife business arrangement only if one of the conditions set out in RS 01802.310 exists. If development is undertaken, consider:

The claim for benefits may be the first time a question is raised as to whether earnings were properly reported or that a partnership existed.

One spouse may have already filed for benefits and claimed all of the earnings as his (or hers).

A joint income tax was probably filed and all SEI reported in the name of one spouse.

If it is determined that a partnership existed, document the file and take the necessary action to correct the earnings records (see RS 01802.344). Do not conclude that a partnership did not exist solely because these factors exist.